Evertonians could soon be looking up – literally – if Lacina Traore, the latest name linked with a move to Goodison Park, makes a loan switch to the Blues.

Reports this weekend suggest that Everton have jumped ahead of West Ham United in the race to land the giant Ivory Coast striker.

Standing at a colossal 6ft 8in in his football socks, the 23-year-old would be the tallest outfield player in Premier League history and is the same height as Manchester City’s huge goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon, who is one of his former rivals from the Romanian League.

Reflecting the shift in financial muscle across Europe, Traore sealed a lucrative transfer to Monaco earlier this month from former big spenders Anzhi Makhachkala, penning a four-and-a-half year deal.

The Monte Carlo outfit currently have other options up front and are prepared to let Traore go out on loan for the remainder of the current campaign but with Radamel Falcao tipped to leave for a mega fee in the summer, the club expect big things from their new big man next season.

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Traore, who has netted four times in seven internationals and hopes to be part of the Elephants’ World Cup squad in Brazil this summer, started his career in his homeland with Stade d’Abidjan.

He came to Europe aged 18 and netted in Champions League football with Romanians CFR Cluj before beginning a three-year stay in Russia with Kuban Krasnodar.

Traore joined Anzhi for a reported 18million euros fee in June 2012 and scored the winning goal in a 1-0 Europa League victory over Liverpool.